Geographical Features Teaching Resources
Teach about geographical features in your HASS classes with printable worksheets, interactive activities, instructional slide decks and more Australian curriculum-aligned and teacher-created resources.
This teaching resource collection includes editable options so you can easily make the edits you need to fit your lesson planning needs. You'll also find resources that have already been differentiated for your students.
Best of all? Each printable and digital resource has been reviewed by the teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure it's classroom-ready, so you can download and begin using it in the classroom right away.
New to teaching about the planet's different geographical features, or looking for some fresh ideas to explore mountains, lakes and more? The teachers of Teach Starter have put together this handy primer.
What Is a Geographic Feature? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Are you trying to explain geographical features to your students? Here's a simple definition for kids:
A geographical feature is a natural or human-made characteristic of the Earth's surface.
What Are Examples of Geographic Features?
OK, so that's what it is. But what, exactly are we talking about? Let's look at some examples of major geographic features to make the concept of features of geography more concrete for your students!
Examples of Natural Geographic Features for Kids
The physical and environmental characteristics of the Earth's surface that are created by natural processes — such as plate tectonics, erosion, weathering, and volcanic activity — are natural geographical features.
They're important because they shape our entire environment, determining everything from the distribution of plant and animal species to influencing climate patterns, and they provide natural resources for human societies. They also tend to become landmarks and tourist attractions.
Examples of major physical features of our Earth include:
- Mountains (e.g., the Rocky Mountains, the Andes, the Himalayas)
- Rivers (e.g., the Amazon River, the Nile, the Finke River)
- Lakes (e.g., Lake Albina, Lake Victoria, Avoca Lake)
- Oceans (e.g., the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean)
- Deserts (e.g., the Sahara, the Mojave Desert, the Gobi Desert)
- Islands (e.g., Heard Island, Madagascar, the Galapagos Islands)
- Plains (e.g., Bogong High Plains,Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains)
- Valleys (e.g., Hunter Valley, Clare Valley, Jamison Valley)
- Volcanoes (e.g., Mount Fuji, Mount Vesuvius, Mount Schank)
- Caves (e.g., Jenolan Caves, Careys Cave, Wellington Caves)
Examples of Human-Made Geographical Features for Kids
The other major type of feature of geography is the human-made kind. These physical and environmental characteristics of the Earth's surface are created or modified by human activities. These features are usually built to serve a specific purpose, such as transportation or communication.
These features also have cultural and historical significance, and they can be tourist attractions.
Examples of this type of feature include:
- Cities (e.g., Brisbane, Tokyo, Mumbai)
- Roads (e.g., the Great Ocean Road, the Trans-Amazonian Highway)
- Bridges (e.g., the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Tower Bridge)
- Canals (e.g., the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, the Alexandra Canal)
- Dams (e.g., the Bendora Dam, the Three Gorges Dam, the Aswan High Dam)
- Airports (e.g., Alice Springs Airport, Heathrow Airport, Changi Airport)
- Railroads (e.g., the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Orient Express, the Eurostar)
- Harbours (e.g., Sydney Harbour, the Port of Shanghai, the Port of Singapore)
- Parks (e.g., Purnululu National Park, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Tomaree National Park)
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10 Fascinating Facts About the Sydney Harbour Bridge – Comprehension Worksheet
A comprehension worksheet for an article including ten facts about the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.
- Free Plan
Natural, Managed or Constructed? - Worksheet
A worksheet that explores natural, managed and constructed features.
- Plus Plan
Natural, Managed, and Constructed Environments PowerPoint
A 17-slide teaching presentation to use when exploring some of the features of environments.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of Australia PowerPoint
A 20 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the geographical features of Australia.
- Plus Plan
Natural Disaster Posters
Posters with pictures for eight different types of natural disasters.
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Deserts of Australia - Teaching Presentation
Explore Australia's deserts with this 14-slide editable teaching presentation.
- Plus Plan
Natural and Built Environments - Special Place Worksheet
A worksheet that requires your students to draw and explain their special place.
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Tropical Rainforest PowerPoint
An 11 slide editable PowerPoint to use in the classroom when learning about tropical rainforests.
- Free Plan
The Continent of Europe - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Europe with this informative printable mini-book.
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The Continent of North America - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of North America with this informative printable mini-book.
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World Continents Brochure - Template
Replace your continents worksheets with a printable continents brochure project.
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The Natural Environment of Africa - Inquiry Task
An inquiry task focusing on the natural environment of the grasslands of Africa.
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Australian Immigration Posters
A set of 7 posters that describe the impact immigration had on shaping Australia as a nation.
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The Natural Environment of Africa PowerPoint
A 17 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the climate, vegetation and animals of Africa.
- Free Plan
Map of the World's Vegetation Zones
Locate and explore the different biomes of the world with this engaging classroom poster.
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Comprehension - The Great Wall of China
A comprehension activity about The Great Wall of China.
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Famous Landmarks - STEM Challenge Cards
A set of 8 famous landmarks STEM challenge cards encouraging students to build famous structures.
- Free Plan
Time Zones World Map
A poster to display in the classroom to show the different time zones of the world.
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The Continent of Africa - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Africa with this informative printable mini-book.
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The Continent of South America - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of South America with this informative printable mini-book.
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The Continent of Australia - Mini-Book
Explore the wonders and delights of the continent of Australia with this informative printable mini-book.
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Natural, Managed, and Human-Made Features Posters
Identify the natural, manmade, and managed features of environments with printable anchor charts.
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Continents and Oceans Bingo
Turn Geography into a fun and educational learning experience by using our Continents and Oceans Bingo Game!
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Continents and Oceans Worksheet
A worksheet to practise identifying the 7 continents and 5 oceans.
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Rivers of Australia - Teaching Presentation
Explore Australia's complex system of rivers with this 14-slide editable teaching presentation.
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Five Australian Landmarks Posters
A set of 5 posters highlighting some of Australia's most famous Landmarks.
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The Continent of South America PowerPoint
A 20 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the geographical features of South America.
- Plus Plan
The Continent of Africa PowerPoint
A 20 slide editable PowerPoint template to use when introducing students to the geographical features of Africa.
- Plus Plan
Deciduous Forest PowerPoint
An 11 slide editable PowerPoint to use in the classroom when learning about deciduous forests.
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6 Australian National Parks Posters
A set of six posters with information about Australian National Parks, including how to care for them.
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Geographic Landforms Features Poster and Worksheet
Add this poster of different types of geographic features of Earth to your classroom walls to provide a visual reference for students.
- Free Plan
Natural and Built Environments - Information Sheets
A set of information sheets for selected natural and built environments.
- Geographical Features Worksheets
- Geographical Features Posters
- Geographical Features Teaching Presentations
- Geographical Features Labels, Signs & Decorations
- Geographical Features for Foundation Year
- Geographical Features for Year 1
- Geographical Features for Year 2
- Geographical Features for Year 3
- Geographical Features for Year 4
- Geographical Features for Year 5
- Geographical Features for Year 6
- Geographical Features for Year 7